Bye Bye HOG
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,914
Likes: 3,196
From: On one of 10,000
I'm outa here!
Yup, me too. Free hot dogs, cokes and popcorn on Saturday. That's the only fascination the local dealership holds for me.
Not surprised to hear them shutting down local HOG chapters. After all the Harley mindset has always been "if it doesn't make dollars it doesn't make sense."
Not surprised to hear them shutting down local HOG chapters. After all the Harley mindset has always been "if it doesn't make dollars it doesn't make sense."
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 87
From: Dallas,Tx
For some new riders to HD the HOG chapter van be a good thing. But more and more I see people who were members moving on after a while. My biggest problem with the Chapter I was a member of a few years back, was the same roads over and over. I realize after a while that can't be helped. I became a Road Captain to try and change that. Did not take long to see that wasn't a good idea. Me and the wife ride by ourselves now.
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
That's understandable -- BUT in this case the move to "cut expenses" seems a bit illogical. The HOG chapter has (had) ~200 members, of which maybe 100 or so were relatively active. Many (50% ?) of the most active members have now expressed their intention to "never spend another dime" at the dealership, even to the point of joining the HOG chapter at a rival dealership about 70 miles away. That group spent significant $$$ on their bikes and gear -- several I know spent at least $50K (each) just in the last 12 months. Those folks are now effectively gone as customers. The dealer's expenses for HOG were (TTBOMK) limited to providing a meeting room and a 10% discount for members, occasionally donating a $25 gift card for meeting door prize, and paying transportation costs for officers to annual HOG Officer Training (lodging and meals were on the member). The usual donuts, hot dogs, etc were not specifically for HOG members -- anyone could partake -- so that expense would not count (and I suppose will be continued).
I'm not bashing the dealer -- it's his business to run good or bad, and whether he survives or not won't much matter to me. I made some good friends and had some good times as a HOG member and officer, but I'm not going to ride 70 miles just to attend a meeting. The few guys I enjoy riding with are still here, and I will spend my $$ where it's to my benefit. It's just interesting to watch and try to understand people...
I'm not bashing the dealer -- it's his business to run good or bad, and whether he survives or not won't much matter to me. I made some good friends and had some good times as a HOG member and officer, but I'm not going to ride 70 miles just to attend a meeting. The few guys I enjoy riding with are still here, and I will spend my $$ where it's to my benefit. It's just interesting to watch and try to understand people...
Last edited by PPBART; Sep 18, 2017 at 08:27 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,468
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
For some new riders to HD the HOG chapter van be a good thing. But more and more I see people who were members moving on after a while. My biggest problem with the Chapter I was a member of a few years back, was the same roads over and over. I realize after a while that can't be helped. I became a Road Captain to try and change that. Did not take long to see that wasn't a good idea. Me and the wife ride by ourselves now.
1. The rides are too long.
2. We keep going to the same places.
Wtf?!? If we make the rides shorter, that makes the list of potential destinations shorter, which means we're going to go to them more often.
These answers were together with:
1. It's too cold in the winter.
2. It's too rainy in the spring.
3. It's too hot in the summer.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,262
Likes: 15,534
From: Tulsa
We just did an online survey for our members. Two of the most common responses to the question: "If you don't go on rides, why not?" were:
1. The rides are too long.
2. We keep going to the same places.
Wtf?!? If we make the rides shorter, that makes the list of potential destinations shorter, which means we're going to go to them more often.
These answers were together with:
1. It's too cold in the winter.
2. It's too rainy in the spring.
3. It's too hot in the summer.
1. The rides are too long.
2. We keep going to the same places.
Wtf?!? If we make the rides shorter, that makes the list of potential destinations shorter, which means we're going to go to them more often.
These answers were together with:
1. It's too cold in the winter.
2. It's too rainy in the spring.
3. It's too hot in the summer.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
I was a charter member of a HOG chapter back in the late eighties...I helped form the group, and left when I moved to another state. It was a great experience, I knew and liked all the members, which numbered less than fifty upon my departure. I was only in the other state for about a year, and re-joined the local chapter when I returned. I sold my Harley, but returned to the chapter eleven years later when I bought my next Harley.
I can't express how thoroughly things had changed in that group!!! It had turned into a very cliquish club, and although folks were friendly to the people they knew, they really had no use for someone they didn't know, or even for someone who had helped launch the chapter they were in. Didn't really bother me much...that attitude pretty much went along with the massive changes in the demographic of Harley owners and riders in general!
I stuck around for a few months. After a couple of eight mile rides, I decided this group really didn't add anything to my life, so I quit participating. Different strokes for different folks. I agree with the concept that the HOG chapters that I have observed here and there do try to emulate the OMG thang, at least to the point that their structured lifestyles allow them to.
The local chapter that I was a part of was very much supported by the local dealership, and in return, the members supported the dealership. To that extent, the whole thing worked really well...
I can't express how thoroughly things had changed in that group!!! It had turned into a very cliquish club, and although folks were friendly to the people they knew, they really had no use for someone they didn't know, or even for someone who had helped launch the chapter they were in. Didn't really bother me much...that attitude pretty much went along with the massive changes in the demographic of Harley owners and riders in general!
I stuck around for a few months. After a couple of eight mile rides, I decided this group really didn't add anything to my life, so I quit participating. Different strokes for different folks. I agree with the concept that the HOG chapters that I have observed here and there do try to emulate the OMG thang, at least to the point that their structured lifestyles allow them to.
The local chapter that I was a part of was very much supported by the local dealership, and in return, the members supported the dealership. To that extent, the whole thing worked really well...
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Lol.... If they did that, inside of six weeks they would get a threatening Cease and Desist letter from the MOCO attorneys claiming unlawful use of the word "Harley" in the name!
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 87
From: Dallas,Tx
We just did an online survey for our members. Two of the most common responses to the question: "If you don't go on rides, why not?" were:
1. The rides are too long.
2. We keep going to the same places.
Wtf?!? If we make the rides shorter, that makes the list of potential destinations shorter, which means we're going to go to them more often.
These answers were together with:
1. It's too cold in the winter.
2. It's too rainy in the spring.
3. It's too hot in the summer.
1. The rides are too long.
2. We keep going to the same places.
Wtf?!? If we make the rides shorter, that makes the list of potential destinations shorter, which means we're going to go to them more often.
These answers were together with:
1. It's too cold in the winter.
2. It's too rainy in the spring.
3. It's too hot in the summer.